Mary Lou Spain

Mary Lou (Atkins) Gale-Spain, passed away at her home on Fairfax Ave (aged 88) Thursday night, February 5th, in the loving arms of her family. Born on July 17, 1937, to Loren and Mildred (Hume) Atkins, along with her identical twin sister, Betty Sue Cheshier-Nichols. They were the first twins born in the Dos Palos Hospital, weighing in at 5 lbs each. They were the middle siblings between Joyce, Forrest, and Linda. She spent her childhood riding horses, working on their family dairy, camping at Clover Meadow and Granite Creek, singing in the High School choir and was heavily involved with the DP Church of Christ. She began dating neighbor John Gale Jr. when he returned home after the Korean Conflict, riding on caterpillars with him as he began farming with his father, John Gale Sr. and working at his mother, Ellen (Wong) Gale's dairy. They married in 1957, raising four children: Loren, Ellen, Marilyn, and Brook on the corner of Merrill and Evans. They loved camping at Whiskey Falls and riding "Tote Goat" motorcycles all over the Sierras, Panoche Hills, and Mojave Desert with friends and their kids (holding on tight). They bought two farm properties and excavated large pon...[more]

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with islands connected by raised boardwalks. The last pond was dredged to become a 12-acre lake, that they water skied on and fished. It attracted migratory geese that became year-round residents along with many other waterfowl. Ponies, a goat, numerous dogs and cats rounded out the menagerie. They hosted annual hunting parties and always had friends stopping by or staying for dinner. Besides farming, they started a sand business and drove large trucks up and down the West Coast, always together. After losing son Loren in a motorcycle accident in 1975, then husband Johnny in 1988, Mary Lou bought a new home next to her twin where she planned to live out her life as a widow. Life (or maybe God) had different plans... In 2003, she unexpectedly found love again and married Ara Lee Spain. They loved going on drives and trying out restaurants. They lived on Bryant Road for 17 years before Mary Lou had a major stroke, during the height of Covid. Over the next 3 years with tremendous effort, therapy, and family support, she climbed her way back, relearning how to walk, talk, and eat. She was incredibly inspiring to all who knew her. After countless mini strokes, she moved to an Assisted Living Center in Kerman in 2023 where she continued to inspire her family, but also fellow residents, caregivers, and staff. She was loved by all. Just recently, she began losing the ability to eat and drink and was ready to come home. After returning to Dos Palos, she closed her eyes for the last time and was reunited in Christ with her deceased family. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents Loren and Mildred (Hume) Atkins; first husband John Gale, Jr., son Loren Gale; sisters Joyce Spain, Betty Sue Cheshier-Nichols and Linda Avedisia and brother Forrest Atkins. She is survived by her husband Ara Lee Spain; 3 children, Ellen Gale Martin of Dexter, OR, Marilyn (Greg) Pyke of Washington and Brook (Olivia) Gale of Fresno, CA; 3 Stepchildren, Ron (Cheryl) Spain, Karen Spain and Russell (Kathy) Spain; 9 grandkids, 7 Step-Grandkids, 22 Great Grandkids, 14 Step-Great Grandkids and many family and friends. It will take a lifetime to stop missing her, but she has an eternity with her Lord and Savior. She is dearly loved and missed. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Church of Christ in Dos Palos, CA at 11:00 am.